Indoor team sport banned in England as Boris Johnson tightens coronavirus restrictions

Indoor team sport is being banned in England again as coronavirus restrictions are tightened following the surge in infections.

Activities including five-a-side football will no longer be allowed from Thursday – as the exemption under the ‘rule of six’ law is removed, Boris Johnson announced.

The move will allow sport to continue outdoors – where the risk of transmission is lower – although the government is not ruling out a further crackdown, if necessary.

In a statement to MPs, the prime minister warned coronavirus would “spread faster as autumn becomes winter”, adding: “This is the moment where we must act.”